There is no creation without audacity," the Mayor insisted, while congratulating the French artists, Veronique Ellena and Pierre-Alain Parot, who created the new stained glass windows.

Ellena, who works primarily in photography, won a public competition launched by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication as part of the cathedral's anniversary celebrations for the design of new stained glass windows.

Ellena worked with French master glass-maker Parot to combine photographic images with stained glass in order to fill two bays in the cathedral which had previously contained plain glass windows.

"I thank you to have had the courage to bring modern art and photography into this cathedral for its millenary anniversary," declared Ellena at the inauguration.

Members of the public have begun visiting the new windows as countries across Europe observe the annual European Heritage Days celebrations, this year taking place on Sept. 19 and 20.

Inaugurated in 1985, European Heritage Days have since 1999 been organized as a joint initiative of the European Commission and the Council of Europe.